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Perfume recommendations for a 16/17 yr old that isn’t overtly ‘sexy’?

79 replies

Snooks1971 · 04/12/2019 19:50

My niece would like some perfume for Christmas and I have no idea! A bit of background; she is 16 and 17 next year but has some SEN and is socially more like 13 ish. Hence I don’t want to necessarily go down the Beyoncé/J-Lo route but need something light and glam looking (impressive bottle) that she will wow at.
Oh and budget is 20-25! Any ideas please?

OP posts:
Sidge · 04/12/2019 20:44

Next do some really nice fragrances (surprisingly).

My eldest loves Just Pink and I love Cashmere. They’re pretty cheap but are nicely packaged and wear well.

PortNStilton · 04/12/2019 20:46

If you want to steer clear of celeb branding fir fear of getting it wrong, and want to stay fairly cheap, I’d say

D&G Light Blue (lemony, musky, a bit ‘unisex’)
The CLEAN range of fragrances. Lots of fresh, soapy fragrances.

Philosophy fragrances. Pure Grace and Amazing Grace are both light, airy fragrances

Body Shop and Lush fragrances worth exploring .

PortNStilton · 04/12/2019 20:47

Issue Miyake original is pretty good in this category, too.

insufferablefury · 04/12/2019 20:47

Calyx and Antonia's flowers are the fragrance I would by for my child when they are older, as well as Diorissimo. They all smell like one of a kind, not like others.

PortNStilton · 04/12/2019 20:49

Oh and H&M do cheap as chips lovely ‘clean’ fragrances.

Above the Clouds is a dupe for Byredo Blanche (which is ££££). It’s an EXACT dupe, in fact. Sort of laundry / clean linen vibe.

Similar but a bit lighter and fresher - T-Shirt by H&M.

happy97 · 04/12/2019 20:53

Daisy or Chloé

CoffeeBeansGalore · 04/12/2019 20:56

My daughters at her age liked (& still wear) Avon Today (there is usually a triple set on offer for xmas of Today, Tomorrow, Always), & Avon Incandessence. Lovely bottles too. All reasonably priced. At 13 I loved my mum's Nina Ricci L'air du Temps. Still love it wear it now. Very reasonable prices via eBay, again gorgeous bottle.

Mummyshark2018 · 04/12/2019 20:58

Boots have an offer on a Ghost gift set which includes 3x individually wrapped bottles of 30ml perfumes and a lovely case and bag -£35. You could definitely get 3 gifts out of it.

insufferablefury · 04/12/2019 21:07

CoffeeBeansGalore, my favorite from Avon was rose/violet/hyacinth set of 3 fragrances. My neighbour use to sell Avon, and I loved them. Still love them in fact.

CountFosco · 04/12/2019 21:25

The new Zara Emotions might be good, you can get a Discovery set of 4ml samples of each. Designed by Jo Malone. But I'm not sure teenagers will be into clean smelling perfumes, sweet perfumes seem to be very popular with the young these days. Understand why you don't want to buy celebrity perfumes but they are often very good value. Alternatively how about a box from The Perfume Society with lots of samples?

CoffeeBeansGalore · 04/12/2019 21:43

@insufferablefury It's strange how a fragrance can "capture" you. My girls wear others as well but they do like Avon!

CoolcoolcoolcoolcoolNoDoubt · 04/12/2019 22:10

Go for a couple of the Zara perfumes, they’re fab and v cheap but don’t look it.

PenelopePeachStone · 04/12/2019 22:13

Another vote for the Marc Jacobs daisy range... floral and light and lovely bottles.... x

MissBattleaxe · 04/12/2019 23:01

Hi OP, I'm a perfume blogger and I've written a blog post on how to shop for teens. I can't do the exact link as I'm on my phone but go to www.iscentyouaday.com and it'll be on there.

You've had some great advice so far. My recommendation s are Avon Eve Truth, a lovely aquatic fresh floral that's about a tenner, or Jimmy Choo Blossom. I also really recommend the Perfume Society Discovery Boxes BC as mentioned above. You don't have to sign up or be a member, just visit their website and buy one.

MissBattleaxe · 04/12/2019 23:03

Don't know why I put BC there! Also a previous poster was right about Victoria's Secret body mists. They're huge right now. The vanilla lace is a good classic vanilla.

Sunny85 · 04/12/2019 23:05

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at poster's request.

LokiCat · 04/12/2019 23:10

Vera Wang Princess was one of my favourite scents when I was in secondary school. The bottle is really cute as well! The Perfume Shop are doing a 100ml bottle for £19.99 - www.theperfumeshop.com/vera-wang/princess/eau-de-toilette-for-her/p/25430EDTJU

MrsFoxPlus4Again · 04/12/2019 23:11

Sisters the same age she likes DNKY green apple, it’s fruity. Or Victoria secret sprays

MrsFoxPlus4Again · 04/12/2019 23:20

Oh and she likes Superdrug layering lab, body sprays with different notes that you can layer the scents or wear on their own ☺️

ForMySorrow · 04/12/2019 23:26

Lacoste Touch of Pink was incredibly popular when I was at school. I still love it now.

SuperLoudPoppingAction · 04/12/2019 23:33

shop.kew.org/rose-eau-de-toilette the other one

RickOShay · 04/12/2019 23:34

I’ve bought 17 yo dd the honey one by Marc Jacobs. The bottle has bees on, and looks lovely.
I have bought her Daisy and DNKY, before, and looked at Ghost Night!
I also got her a Body Shop spray to go in her stocking. Lucky girl Xmas Grin

twoturtledove · 04/12/2019 23:35

Vera Wang - Princess. Gorgeous bottle with a crown topper and smells lovely!